Audit Report Reveals Abba Sanyang Awarded His Own Company Over D1.2M In Contracts Without Due Process 

By Buba Gagigo

According to audit reports, Sankulay firms, a business owned by Hon. Abba Sanyang received numerous procurement awards totaling GMD 1,277,740 (one million, two hundred and seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred and forty dalasis) while Sanyang was the governor of Central River Region (CRR). The awards were given without due process.

“We noted that Sankulay firms is a business owned by former Governor/vote controller (HON. ABBA SANYANG) received numerous procurement awards amounting to GMD1,277,740 (one million, two hundred and seventy-seven thousand, seven hundred and forty dalasis) from January 2022 to July 2022. Further review revealed that contracts were awarded to the said business without following due process. 

The auditors noted that the business was awarded contracts in different categories, as shown in the table below. This is a total violation of the code of conduct for civil servants and the GPPA Regulation.

The auditors also revealed that their team later discovered that the name of the proprietor had been changed from Abba Sanyang to Modou Lamin Sanyang (family). The following table shows the payments made to Sankulay firms.

Date	Details	Pv Number	Payee	Amount GMD
05/04/2022	Purchase of small office equipment	16pv22000617	Sankulay firms	62,100
23/8/2022	Maintenance vehicle	16PV22001146	Sankulay firms	158,400
23/6/2022	Maintenance Building	16PV22001144	Sankulay firms	120,600
23/6/2022	Office equipment	16PV22001145	Sankulay firms	315,500
05/04/2022	Miscellaneous expenses	16PV22000619	Sankulay firms	44,100
23/6/2022	Furniture and Fittings	16pv22001143	Sankulay firms	225,000
26/4/2022	NO PAYMENT VOUCHER SEEN	N/A	Sankulay firms	44,500
6/6/2022	NO PAYMENT VOUCHER SEEN	Sankulay firms	Sankulay firms	72,500
6/6/2022	NO PAYMENT VOUCHER SEEN	Sankulay firms	Sankulay firms	72,500
Total				1,277,740

According to the GPPA Act 2014, Section 27. Conduct of public officials and bidders

(1) A public officer involved in requisitioning, planning, preparing, and conducting procurement proceedings and administering the implementation of procurement contracts shall:

(a) discharge his or her duties impartially so as to ensure fair and competitive access to public procurement by suppliers.

(b) act in the public interest and in accordance with the objectives and procedures set out in this Act and in the Regulations.

(c) avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety in carrying out his or her duties and conducting himself or herself; and

(d) not commit or abet corrupt or fraudulent practices, including the solicitation or acceptance of improper inducements.